Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Vijitha Herath told Parliament that Sri Lanka’s tourism revenue has not declined, but that the country is now reporting more accurate figures through internationally accepted scientific survey methods.

Responding to questions raised by MP Ravi Karunanayake, the Minister explained that previous survey techniques relied on limited samples that overstated tourism earnings, while the current methodology provides a more realistic picture of tourist spending patterns.

Karunanayake also highlighted concerns that many credit card payments made by tourists bypass the domestic LankaPay system and are processed through overseas gateways, resulting in a loss of foreign exchange earnings.

Minister Herath acknowledged the issue and said the government has already introduced measures through the budget to collect revenue from international digital platforms and payment applications. He added that legal and technological reforms are being accelerated, including greater integration with LankaPay, to ensure that a larger share of tourism-related revenue remains within Sri Lanka.